Aeroplane



A. J. BERNIER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I922.

Patented May 30, 1922.

3 SHEETS---SHEET I.

v I I I I chunk-H A. J. BERNIERP AEBOPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1922- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Alct'ol Jfieruz'r V. unnu .T in? 1 Hamil i Q i A. J. BERNIER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I922.

2 2. 9 1T. ,5 Om b 3% Y8 an MM 8 d3 6 m m P awe M UNITED STATES eA'rear10am;

ALCIDE J. BEBNIER, or wasmne'ron, msrmc'r or coiwmsm.

AEROPLANE.

' Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30,1922.

Application filed March 20, 1922. Serial No. 545,081.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ALCIDEJQBERNIER, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, and subject of the King of Great Britain'residing at Washington,in the Districtof olumbia, have invented certain new and usefulImrovements in Aeroplanes, of. which'the folowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in.

aeroplanes.

An important object of my invention is to provide an aeroplane having apropeller.

, provide an aeroplane having two engines in each fuselage, with novelcarrying so that the engines maybe employed to drive the elevatingpropellers, and either engine may be employed to drive the tractorpropeller, or both engines coupled together and employed to drive thetractor propellers. I

A further object of the inventionis to pro-v vide means wherebyeitherengine may be free from connection with'the elevating propeller orthe tractor propeller, so that .the engine may be started with theself-starter and subsequently thrown into connection with the propeller.

, ()ther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. Y in the accompanying drawingsforming: a part of this specification and in which like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an aeroplane embodying my invention, I Fig. 2is 'a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thesustaining planes, showing the means to fold them, V

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a winding drum and associated elements,

F ig. 5 is a perspective view of the engines, propellers, and gearing,removed from the machine, and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, parts in section, of one unit of the drivingmeans.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designatesfuselages which are spaced, as shown, providmg a large opening betweenthe same. The rear endsof the fuselages are connected by a rigidstabilizing plane 11, to which are connected vertically swinging ruddersor elevators, 12, which may be operated in any well known or preferredmanner. The numeral 13 designates vertical fins, upon which are pivotedsteering ruddersv 14, also operatedby any suitable means. The forwardportions of the fuselages are rigidly connected by means of a casing 15,as shown.

Each fuselage 10, Fig. 2, is mounted upon a chassis 16, carrying a wheelor wheels 17. Each fuselage is also equipped near its end with adepending support or skid 18, which retains the rear end spaced from theground, uponv landing.

Extending transversely of the fuselages are upper and lowersustainingplanes 18 and 19, which are pivotally connected, at 20, with struts 21,which are suitably rigidly secured to the fuselages. The planes are alsopivotally connected with rear struts-22, and the two sets of strutstogether with the sustaining planes, constitute a parallelogram, wherebythe planes may be swung downwardly to a folded position, and will besubstantially vertically arranged. The upper plane 18'pre'ferably hasportions of its material cut away,'at 23, so that it may .fold properly.I

Means are ing planes being lowered and to raise them,- such meanscomprising cables 29:, connected with the lower plane 19, and adjacentthe lower end of the rear struts, and extending diagonally over a pulley25, and downwardly to engage a pulley 26. The cable then engages thepulley 27, and passing from this pulley on to a drum 28, upon which thecable is wound. This drum is mounted within the casing 15 and is rigidlysecured to a transprovided to permit the sustainarranged in the cockpits 31, in convenient reach of the operator.

The shaft 29 is provided at its ends with ratchet wheels 32, rigidlysecured thereto, which are engaged by dogs 33, rigidly mounted upon atransverse rock shaft 34 suitably pivotally mounted upon the fuselage.The ratchet wheels and dogs permit the drum 29 being turned in onedirection to wind the cable upon the same, for elevating the planes 18and 19, but look the drum against turning movement in a reversedirection, so that the wings cannot improperly fold. The operator fromeither cock pit may operate'the dog to release the ratchet wheel andhence turn the drum. When in the elevated position, the planes arebraced by diagonal cables 35, connected with the upper plane near therear struts and with the lower plane near the forward struts. Thesecables are flexible and do not interfere with the folding of the planes.

Each fuselage is provided with a rear elevating propeller 36, rigidlymounted upon a vertical shaft 37, journaled in a housing 38'; rigidlysecured to the fuselages. This propeller is arranged rearwardly of thesustaining planes and between them and peller 43, which isrigidlymounted upon a the stabilizing wing 11. The opening between the twofuselages, provides for the free passage of the air downwardly from theelevating propeller. Each vertical shaft 37 is provided at its lower endwith a beveled gear 38, rigidly secured thereto, and this beveled gearis in'permanent mesh with a beveled gear 39, rigidly mounted upon ashort shaft 40. This shaft 40 extends longitudinally of the fuselage andis suitably mounted thereon so that it can rotate but cannot movelongitudinally. The shaft 40 is equipped with a friction clutch element41, as shown. The clutch element 41, is adapted to engage with a coactinclutch element 42, in a manner to be described. Each fuselage also has aforward elevating provertical shaft 45, journaled in a housing 46,

- rigidly secured to the fuselages near and in advance of a cock pit,and also in advance of the sustaining planes. When the sustaining planesare folded or lowered, the spacebetween the fuselages permits of thefree downward passage of the air currents. At.

its lower end, each shaft 45 is provided with beveled earing 47, inpermanent mesh with a beveled gear 48, which is rotatable upon a tubularbearing 49, suitably mounted in the fuselage. The gear 48 is free torotate but does not move longitudinally. The gear 48 has a frictionclutch element 50 formed integral therewith, to engage a coactingfriction clutch element 51, to be described;

Arranged in advanceof each fuselage is a tractor propeller 52, which isrigidly mounted upon a short shaft 53, journaled in a suitable bearing54. This short shaft is free to revolve but cannot move thelongitudinally. The shaft 53 has a clutch element 55 rigidly mountedthereon, adapted to en gage with a coacting clutch element 56'.

Mounted within each fuselage are rear and forward internal combustionengines 57 and 58, each of which are equipped with a selfstarter 59 ofany well known or preferred.

upon the rear end of the shaft 62. The shaft 62 is shiftedlongitudinally by means of a lever 63, having a slidable connection withthe shaft at its lower end, as is well known. This lever is pivoted at64, to be swung longitudinally of the fuselage, and is equipped withsuitable latch means 65, to lock it in the desired position.

The location. of the rear engine 57 is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and theforward englne 58 is also clearly shown, slightly in advance of thevertical shaft 45. The engine 58 drives a gear 66, in permanent ineshwith a sliding gear 67, rigidly mounted upon a shaft 68. This shaftextends longitudinally within the fuselage and is journaled in suitablebearings, including a bearing 69, and the tubular bearing 49. At itsforward end, the shaft 68 has the clutch element 56 rigidly securedthereto. The shaft 68'extends rearwardly through and beyond the tubularbearing 49 and is there connected with a clutch element 7 O, rigidlysecured to the same to engage a clutch element 71, rigidly mounted uponthe shaft 62. The shafts 60 and 62 are separate, but may be locked toether through the medium of clutch elements 0 and 71. The clutch element70 is shifted by means of a fork 72, formed upon the lower end of thelever 73, pivoted at 74.

I also provide means whereby the rear englne may be connected with thetractor pro peller, to drive the same, in the event that the forwardengine in the same unit is inoperative, and is cut out, or vice versa.

To accomplish this, I arrange a sliding gear upon the shaft 62, and thissliding gear permanently engages a gear 76, rigidly mounted upon alongitudinal shaft 77, suitably journaled in the fuselage. The shaft 77is free to rotate and gitudinally, and the shaft is shifted by a forkedlever 78, pivoted at 79, and having suitable latch means 80 to hold itin the desired position. The shaft 77 carries at its forward end aclutch element 81, to engage and disengage a clutch element 82, which is62 is free to rotate and also to be' may also be shifted lonrigidlymounted upon the end of a separate longitudinal shaft 83. The shaft 83is suitably journaled in bearings in the fuselage and is free to rotatebut cannot move longitudinally. The shaft 83 carries a gear 84 engaginga gear 85, rigidly mounted .upon a short shaft 53.

The operation of the aeroplane is as follows: Two pilots sit in. the twocock pits, and suitable means of communication are provided betweenthem. This may be done by means of audible or visible signals, telephoneor the like. Assuming that the machine is upon the ground and it isdesired to raise the same. The engines in both fuselage are started,which may be done by means of self-starters. At this time, the leversare all in the neutral osition, and the engines are all disconnectedfrom the propellers. It is desired that the rearand front liftingpropellers, in each unit, be thrown. into action about the same time,and also that the propellers in the two units be thrown into action atabout the same time. Suitable signals being had between the two pilots.the pilot in each cock pit swings the levers63 and 73 forwardly, wherebythe lifting propellers are connected with-the engines. en the lever 63is swung forwardly, the shaft 62 moves rearwardly and clutch elements 41and 42 engage. Clutch element 71 also moves rearwardly, and hence clutchelement will not engage it as the shaft 68 is moved rearwardly to bringclutch element 51 into engagement with clutch element 50. It is thusseen that the rear engine has connection with the rear liftingpropeller, and the forward engine has separate connection with theforward lifting propeller, the two engines at this time being connected.When the lifting propellers are thus started the aeroplane begins toascend, and the pressure upon the wings 18 and19 will tend to force themdownwardly, and these wings may accordingly be folded. The operator ineither cock pit now moves the dog 33 out of engagement with the ratchetwheel 32 and slowly turns the hand wheel 30 to permit the planes tofold. By folding these planes, the

pressure upon the machine is substantially reduced, and the liftingpropellers can more readily elevate the same. When the desired elevationis obtained, the lifting planes are first returned to the upperposition, and locked in this position. The levers 63 and 73 are firstshifted to the neutral position. which serves to --cut the rear andforward. lifting propeller in each unit from conne tion with theengines. As soon as this has been done, the forward lever 73 in eachunit is shifted rearwardly, whereby the shaft 68 is moved forwardly andthe clutch element 56 brought into engagement with the clutch element55. The forward engine is therefore connected with the tractorpropeller.- It

gine being out of order,

propeller, by means of the rear engine 57 with the forward engine 58entirely out.

out, as in the event of the forward en- To' accomplish this, the lever73 is shifted to the neutral position, whereby the clutch element 56'disengages the clutch element 55, and lever 63 is, also shifted to theneutral position, so that clutch element 71 disengages clutch element70." Lever 7 8 is now shifted rearwardlyand clutch element 81 willengage clutch element 82. The shaft 62 will now rotate the gear 75,driving-gear 76, driving shaft 77, shaft 83, gear 8 1, and gear 85. Indescending, either one or'both of the engines may be in operation, asdesired,

and of course the. speed of the engines is con- It is to be. understoodthat the form of my invention herewith shown and described is t be takenas ayprefei'red example of the same, and that Various changes in theshape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, joined claims.

Having thus claim: I

1. In an a'eroplane',,a pair of spaced Lfuselages, a rear stabilizingplane connecting the rear ends "of-the fuselages, means connecting theforwafdends of the fuselages, substantially vertically; struts securedto the fuselages, 'transversesilstaining planes piv oted at theirforward edges to the struts to swing vertically, means whereby theplanes may be raised and lowered and held in the raised position, rear!lifting propellers carried by the fuselages and aror the scope of thesubranged between the stabilizing plane and the 2. In an aeroplane, a(pair of spaced fuselages, means for rigi 1y connecting the same,substantially vertical struts secured to the fuselages, transversesustaining planes having their forward portions pivotally connected withthe upper and lower portions of said struts, rear struts pivotally.

connectin the rear portions of the sustaining p anes, diagonallyarranged cables connected with the rear portion of the lower sustainingplane and extending upwardly and forwardly and secured to the forwardstruts, a transverse drum upon which the cables are wound, means to turnthe drum, rear lifting propellers connected with the fuselagesrearwardly of the sustaining planes, forward lifting propellersconnected with the fuselages forwardly of-the sustaining planes, tractorpropellers carried by the forward ends of the fuselages, and means fordriving said propellers.

3. In an aeroplane, a pair of spaced fuse- ,lages, upstanding strutsconnected with the fuselages, vertically swinging transverse planespivotally mounted upon the struts at points near their forward edges,rear struts pivotally connected with the rear portions of the planes,diagonally arranged cables to swing the planes upwardly, a drum uponwhich the cables are wound, a transverse shaft carrying the drum andextending into the fuselages, manually operated elements carried by theends of the shaft, toothed wheels mounted upon the ends of said shaft, atransverse rock shaft, and dogs carried by the ends of the rock shaftand engaging the toothed wheels, lifting propellers carried by thefuselages and arranged above the transverse planes, tractor propellerscarried by the forward ends of the fuselages, and means to drive thepropellers.

4. In an aeroplane, a pair of spaced fuselages, a rear stabilizing planeconnecting the ends of the fuselages, means connecting the forward endsof the fuselages, vertically swinging transverse sustaining planescarried by the fuselages, means to swing the planes upon their pivotsand hold them against swinging movement, a rear lifting propellercarried by each fuselage and ar-- ranged between the stabilizing laneand sustaining planes, a forward li ing propeller carried by eachfuselage and arranged in advance of the sustaining planes, forward andrear engines carried by each fuselage, means whereby the rear engine maydrive the rear lifting propeller, separate means whereby the forwardengine may drive the forward lifting propeller, a tractor propellercarried by each fuselage, and means whereby the forward and rear enginesmay be coupled together and connected with the tractor propeller todrive'it.

5. In an aeroplane, apair of connected fuselages, transverse sustainingplanes carried by the fuselages, a rear lifting propeller carried byeach fuselage, a forward ifting propeller carried by each fuselage,forward and rear engines carried by each fuselage, means whereby therear engine may be connected and disconnected with and from the rearpropeller, separate means whereby the forward engine may be connectedand disconnected with and from the forward propeller, a tractorpropeller carried by each fuselage, and means whereby the forward andrear engines may be connected together and connected with the tractorpropeller to drive it.

6. In an aeroplane, a pair of connected fuselages, transverse sustainingplanes carried by the fuselages, rear lifting pro ellers carried by thefuselages, forward ifting propellers carried by the fuselages, forwardand rear engines carried by each fuselage, means whereby the rear enginemay be connected and disconnected with and from-the corresponding rearpropeller,separate means whereby the forward engine may be connected anddisconnected with and from the forward propeller, a tractor propellercar ried by the fuselage, means whereby the forward and rear engines maybe directly connected and disconnected and the forward engine connectedand disconnected with the tractor propeller, and means whereby the rearengine may be connected and disconnected with and from the tractorpropeller.

7. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a sustaining plane carried thereby,forward and rear longitudinal drive shafts carried by the fuselage,forward and rear engines in the fuselage to drive the forward and rearshafts, forward and rear lifting propellers carried by the fuselage,means for connecting and disconnecting the rear drive shaft and rearpropeller, means for connecting and disconnecting the forward driveshaft and forward propeller, means for connecting and disconnecting saiddrive shafts, a tractor propeller carried by the fiselage, means forconnecting and disconnecting the forward drive shaft'and propeller,supplemental longitudinal drive shafts, means for connecting, anddisconnecting the supplemental drive shafts, driving means between therear drive shaft and the rear supplemental drive shaft, and drivingmeans between the forward supplemental drive shaft and the tractorpropeller.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

ALCIDE J. BERNIER.

